Blog

What Is the RAISE Family Caregivers Act?

Elder Care in Pinellas Park FL: What Is the RAISE Family Caregivers Act?

The RAISE Family Caregivers Act was introduced to the Senate in 2017. It’s currently with the House. This act is designed to help family caregivers do what is needed to care for a chronically ill or disabled family member.

The purpose of this act is to make sure family caregivers have what they need to help their family member while also taking care of themselves. It’s meant to help state and federal government agencies come up with supportive services for family caregivers. These services will range from training programs to helping finance family caregiving services.

Three Goals of the Act

More families will look at family caregiving as a vital part of care for a disabled or chronically ill family member. With nursing homes, memory care centers, and assisted living communities filled up and unable to take all seniors, home care services and family care become essential tools in long-term care. There are three key goals this act hopes to touch upon.

#1 – Assist family caregivers with the transition to providing care and creating a care plan that covers all of their family member’s needs. Make sure the family caregivers own needs are not overlooked.

#2 – Provide training and educational services for family members who will be offering care or working with a home care agency to provide elder care services. It helps find referrals when respite care or nursing care services become necessary.

#3 – Work with family members to help them figure out how to afford to quit a job or take a family leave hiatus.

Challenges You Face as a Family Caregiver

Caring for an aging parent seems like the natural choice. It can be difficult, but it’s also rewarding. As long as you set limits and make sure you’re taking breaks, the challenges of providing care are minimal.

The bigger strain most family caregivers feel is linked to finances. While seniors have retirement funds to help with daily expenses, some assets are likely tied up in the home’s equity. They need to move to free up the home’s equity, but they don’t want to move. As a result, seniors may not have a lot of money to invest in elder care services.

If you provide the care for your mom or dad, you may not get paid. You may find yourself having to balance their care with your job to maintain an income. You may have to quit your job and survive on your significant other’s income. These are all things to consider when thinking about family caregiving.

While the government hashes out the details of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, you can start learning more about balancing family caregiving with elder care services. There are ways to make it affordable to provide care while also working with caregivers to help out. Call an elder care agency to learn more.